Inactivation of oxytocin by acetone.

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Abstract
Treatment of oxytocin with 80% aqueous acetone resulted in the inactivation of the hormone and the formation of a new compound which was isolated in good yield by partition chromatography on Sephadex. One mole of the compound liberated one mole of acetone when boiled in 0.1 [image] acetic acid for 10 min. Elemental analysis agreed closely with that of an isopropylidene derivative of oxytocin. The new compound, referred to tentatively as "acetone-oxytocin," has about 0.5 unit/mg of avian vasodepressor activity, one thousandth of the activity of oxytocin. Treatment of the compound with 80% acetic acid (48 hr. at 31[degree]) and 0.25% acetic acid (30 min. at 90[degree]) regenerated the hormone in good yield with full biological activity.